ASBY, a parish in EAST ward, county of WESTMORLAND, 4 miles (S. by W.) from Appleby, comprising the townships of Asby-Coatsforth, Little Asby, and Asby-Winderwath, and containing 421 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Carlisle, rated in the king's books at £23. 13. 4., and in the patronage of Sir F. F. Vane, Bart. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a small ancient edifice. A chapel, dedicated to St. Leonard, formerly stood at Little Asby. The parish is bounded on the south by Crosby- Garret and Orton fells, and is intersected by numerous rivulets, on the margin of one of which, in a hollow called Asby Gill, is Pate Hole, a remarkable cavern, one thousand yards in depth, through which runs a small stream. Near Little Asby is a small lake, called Sunbiggin tarn. Limestone abounds in the parish, and a copper mine has been lately opened, and is successfully worked. The village of Great Asby is partly situated in the township of Asby-Coatsforth, and partly in that of Asby-Winderwath. A school-house was built in 1688, by George Smith, merchant taylor, arid citizen of London, to which Dr. Thomas Smith, Bishop of Carlisle, a native of this parish, gave the sum of £100: the annual income now amounts to about £60. In 1812, an almshouse was founded for four poor widows, each of whom has an annuity of £6, and two rooms for residence. The parsonage-house occupies the site of an ancient nunnery, the chapel and prison of which remain, the latter being used as a cellar and coal-house. Near the church is St. Helen's well, supposed to have been a bath belonging to the convent; the water is reputed to be efficacious in healing sore eyes and inveterate wounds.